Possible candidates to become the next Broncos head coach:
Jim Fassel
Position: Former head coach, currently a color commentator.
Teams: Several.
Strength: Was Broncos’ offensive coordinator during John Elway’s only 4,000-yard passing season in 1993. Led New York Giants to 2000 Super Bowl.
Weakness: Hasn’t been a head coach since 2005. Turns 60 on Aug. 31.
Fit: Would be in Bowlen’s price range.
Leslie Frazier
Position: Defensive coordinator.
Team: Minnesota Vikings.
Strength: As Bengals’ defensive coordinator in 2003-04, Bengals had combined 60 takeaways. 2008 Vikings finished with sixth-ranked defense. Head coaching experience at small-college level. Has worked under Andy Reid, Tony Dungy and Brad Childress, all of whom are coaching in the playoffs.
Weakness: Has no expertise on Jay Cutler’s side of the ball.
Fit: A top minority candidate the Broncos need to seriously consider.
Ron Rivera
Position: Defensive coordinator.
Team: San Diego Chargers.
Strength: Guided ferocious Bears defense to Super Bowl in 2006 season and turned around struggling Chargers defense this year at midseason.
Weakness: He was a hot head coaching candidate two years ago, but wound up being fired by the Bears’ Lovie Smith.
Fit: The Chargers may hesitate to give Rivera permission to interview with the adversary Broncos.
Jim Schwartz
Position: Defensive coordinator.
Team: Tennessee Titans.
Strength: His side of the ball is what made the Titans the NFL’s top-ranked team throughout the season. Has interviewed for four NFL head coaching positions the past four years.
Weakness: Relative unknown would not be the kind of hire that would boost ticket sales.
Fit: After this season’s success of previously unknown Mike Smith, John Harbaugh and Tony Sparano for other NFL franchises, Schwartz might be the Broncos’ kind of guy.
Steve Spagnuolo
Position: Defensive coordinator.
Team: New York Giants.
Strength: He’s the only coach who devised a plan that stopped New England’s record-setting offense last season in the Super Bowl. Generates a pass rush from a 4-3 base defense the Broncos have played.
Weakness: Has no head-coaching experience, and his specialty is not on Jay Cutler’s side of the ball.
Fit: He makes a $2 million salary as coordinator so he could get a $4 million salary as head coach. That is probably too rich for Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, unless a team can hire Mike Shanahan to help defray the remaining $16-$20 million owed on his contract.
Bob Stoops
Position: Head coach.
Team: Oklahoma.
Strength: Stoops has led the Sooners to four national BCS title games in 10 years. He’s produced two Heisman Trophy quarterbacks, and the Sooners have gone 109-23 the past 10 years.
Weakness: Has never coached in the NFL, and there is a long history of successful college coaches failing at the pro level.
Fit: Bowlen is a big fan of Stoops and is intrigued by Oklahoma’s consistent success. However, Stoops may also be too expensive as he makes $3 million a year.
